US Visa WatchWhere to Find Green Card Number
The easiest way to find your green card number is to start with the back of your Permanent Resident Card, not the front. On newer cards, the number is usually part of a long machine-readable line near the bottom. It is commonly shown as a 13-character code.
The front has another important number: your 9-digit USCIS number. These numbers are different, and using the wrong one can cause trouble when you fill out an application or Form I-9.
Where to find the green card number on a current Permanent Resident Card
Turn your card over and look near the bottom of the back. You should see a long string made up of letters, numbers, and symbols. This is the machine-readable zone, meaning the part designed to be scanned or read by a system.
On Permanent Resident Cards issued after May 2010, the green card number is typically found in this area. It is described as a 13-character alphanumeric code.
“Alphanumeric” simply means the code can contain both letters and numbers.
A quick way to search is:
- Turn the card to the back.
- Find the long line of coded characters near the bottom.
- Look at the last 13 characters of that long string.
- Compare those characters with the field or label on the form you are completing.
The exact layout can depend on the card design. So, treat the last 13 characters as the main place to check, rather than looking for a large label that says “green card number.”
How to identify the 13-character code on the back
The back of a current card can contain several lines of information. The number you need may not appear by itself in a large, easy-to-read box. Instead, it can be included in the long coded string at the bottom.
To identify it, count from the right side of the string and separate the final 13 characters. Those characters are generally the green card number on newer cards.
For example, if the coded line ends with a group of 13 letters and numbers, that ending group is the part to inspect. The example below is only a visual guide, not a real card number:
`[long coded string] [13-character code]`
Do not post or send your real card number just to ask someone to identify it. It is personal information. If you are filling out a form, copy the characters carefully and check the difference between letters and numbers. For example, a letter and a number can look similar in a small print area.
The same back-of-card code is also described as the Document Number on current Permanent Resident Cards. That matters for Form I-9, as explained below.
Green card number vs. USCIS number
These are two separate numbers on your card.
| Number | Where it usually appears | What it is commonly used to identify |
|---|---|---|
| Green card number | Back of newer cards, in the long coded string | The Permanent Resident Card itself |
| USCIS number | Front of the card | Your USCIS identification number |
| Document Number | Back of current cards | The card number requested for Form I-9 |
The USCIS number is a unique 9-digit number shown on the front of a Permanent Resident Card. It may be labeled “USCIS#” or appear near that label.
The green card number is generally the 13-character code on the back. The USCIS number is the 9-digit number on the front.
They may both be requested by immigration forms, employers, or other records. Read the wording on the form before choosing a number. A request for a USCIS number is asking for the front-of-card 9-digit number. A request for the card number or document number usually points you to the back.
Is the 9-digit number on your green card the card number?
Usually, no.
The 9-digit number on your green card is identified as your USCIS number, not the green card number. It appears on the front of the card.
This is one of the most common points of confusion because the number is easy to see. You may notice it before you find the less obvious code on the back. But visibility does not change what the number represents.
Use this simple front-versus-back rule:
- Front, 9 digits: USCIS number
- Back, 13 characters in the long code: green card number or document number on newer cards
If a form asks for your USCIS number, enter the 9-digit number from the front. If it asks for your green card number, check the 13-character code on the back first.
Which number is the document number for Form I-9?
For Form I-9, the Document Number for a current Permanent Resident Card is the 13-character alphanumeric code on the back of the card.
If you are using your Permanent Resident Card as a List A document, look at the back and find the long machine-readable string near the bottom. The document number is commonly the last 13 characters of that string.
Do not use the front-of-card 9-digit USCIS number in the Document Number field unless the form or an official instruction specifically tells you to do so. The fields are asking for different information.
A useful way to read the form is to separate the labels:
- USCIS number: use the 9-digit number from the front.
- Document number: use the 13-character code from the back.
- Expiration date: use the date requested by the form and shown on the card.
- Document title or issuing authority: follow the wording and instructions on Form I-9.
The document number is tied to the card being used as proof of permanent resident status. That is why the back-of-card code matters here.
How older green card designs may differ
Not every Permanent Resident Card looks the same. Older cards may use a different layout, different labels, or a different arrangement of numbers.
The guidance about the 13-character code on the back applies especially to newer cards issued after May 2010. If your card was issued earlier, you may not see the same machine-readable area or the same placement.
That does not mean the number is missing. It means you should avoid assuming that every card follows the current design.
If the number you see does not match the format requested by a form, check the form’s instructions and use an official USCIS source for help. Do not guess based only on the number of digits. A number that looks similar may be an identification number rather than the document number.
Can you look up your green card number online?
Usually, the practical answer is to use the physical card. The number is printed on the back of newer Permanent Resident Cards, and the available information about finding it points to that card location rather than an online lookup tool.
You should not assume that you can recover the green card number by entering your name, USCIS number, or other details into a general online search. Do not share your full card number on public websites or social media.
If you no longer have the card, or if the back is damaged and the code cannot be read, contact USCIS through an official channel for case-specific guidance. An online account or case record may contain other information, but that does not automatically mean it will display the card number you need.
The safest approach is simple:
- Check the physical card first.
- Use only official USCIS instructions for help with a missing or unreadable card.
- Keep your card number private when asking questions.
A quick checklist for finding the right number
Before entering a number on an application or Form I-9, use this decoder:
- Need the green card number? Turn the card over and inspect the long coded line near the bottom.
- Need the document number? On a current card, use the 13-character alphanumeric code on the back.
- Need the USCIS number? Use the unique 9-digit number on the front.
- See a 9-digit number? Treat it as the USCIS number, not automatically as the card number.
- Have an older card? Compare its layout with the form’s instructions instead of assuming the current design applies.
- Can’t read or find the number? Use an official USCIS source for case-specific help.
Before you submit anything, compare the form’s exact label with the number on the correct side of your card. If your situation does not fit the current card layout, ask USCIS or another appropriate official immigration source rather than guessing.